COVID-19 in Ottawa: Weekly roundup March 12, 2021

Covid-19 Vaccine Updates:

• To date, more than 73,000 doses of vaccines have been administered in Ottawa.
• The first community clinic opened at the Nepean Sportsplex for residents 90 years of age and older. More than 2,500 residents have booked an appointment. Bookings for residents 90 years of age and older will resume on Monday, March 15 with the launch of the provincial booking system.
• All patient-facing healthcare workers, such as doctors, nurses, dentists, midwives, physiotherapists and any other healthcare workers working in a patient facing role, can visit Ottawa Public Health’s website(link is external) to pre-register for a vaccination appointment(link is external). They will receive an email with details of their appointment when it is their time in the vaccination sequencing.
• Pop-up clinics are open to residents 80 years of age and older (born in or before 1941) as well as adult recipients of chronic home care that live in high-priority neighbourhoods. The uptake of eligible residents receiving their vaccine through these clinics has exceeded expectations with nearly 6,300 appointments booked in the last week. Planning is underway to use the pop-up model in rural areas as well.
• Only eligible residents(link is external) should call the COVID-19 vaccine booking phone line. Walk-ins will not be accepted, so please call in advance to book your appointment.
• Vaccination efforts through multiple delivery agents continue to focus on Indigenous older adults, retirement home residents (second doses), other congregate care settings for seniors and shelters.
• Visit the OPH Covid-19 Vaccination page(link is external) to learn who can currently get the Covid-19 vaccine and check out COVID-19 in Ottawa for the latest updates.
• For regularly updated information on COVID-19 in Ottawa, please consult Ottawa Public Health’s dashboard(link is external).   

The latest from Ottawa Public Health

• “I want to thank each and every one of you for everything you’ve done this past year and continue to do as we brace ourselves for a few more months of hard work and patience. Soon, this pandemic will be behind us. Until then, we need to buy time by keeping up with our public health behaviours: limiting your close contacts to only your household, keeping two metres distance from others, wearing a mask, washing your hands and following public health guidance around self-isolation, staying home and getting tested.” Read the latest statement from Dr. Vera Etches(link is external).
• When will the public be able to get their vaccines? Where will the community clinics be located? Find the answers to these questions (and more) here(link is external).
• What is herd immunity? Find out in this short video(link is external)!
• Ottawa Public Health is partnering with Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health(link is external) to provide a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for First Nation, Inuit and Métis community members aged 50 and older at St-Laurent Complex. Call today to book an appointment: 613-691-5505. You will be asked to provide proof of Indigenous identity/status. Learn more(link is external).
• There's been a lot said lately about our dear social media intern, Bruce. And now, Bruce would like to say a few words(link is external). Stay safe and steady as she goes.

In case you missed it

• Flags at all City of Ottawa sites were flown at half-mast on Thursday, March 11 to commemorate the National Day of Observance for COVID-19.
• The first pop-up vaccination clinic(link is external) in Ottawa opened at the Albion-Heatherington Recreation Complex. Through subsequent pop-up clinics, the most severely impacted residents will have access to COVID-19 vaccines. Additional pop-up clinics will be rolled out to the remaining high-priority neighbourhoods in the coming weeks.
• During International Women’s Day celebrations(link is external), on March 8, Mayor Jim Watson and Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, City Council’s Liaison for Women and Gender Equity, announced the signing of Electricity Human Resources Canada’s (EHRC) Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity(link is external).
• The Spring 2021 recreation and culture eGuides are now online offering COVID-modified aquatics, inclusive recreation programming and virtual courses for every interest and age.
• Ottawa’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are sharing the best your neighbourhood has to offer. Buy Local Now Please!

Contact us

For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 3-1-1(TTY: 613-580-2401). You can also connect with us through Facebook(link is external), Twitter(link is external), and Instagram(link is external).